Racing is a labor of love

September 2, 2014

Hopefully, we all had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend. As I stated last week, there were plenty of racing activities going on in the region as some racers made it to a track for three or four straight days of racing. To race multiple nights in a week, let alone just one, takes reliable equipment, financing and crew help. It also takes desire and a passionate love of the sport, making auto racing a true labor of love.

Many nights are spent in garages preparing racing machines. Components and fluids are checked, maintained and replaced. Engines are getting serviced and tuned for the next event. Wheels and tires are inspected in hopes of getting another night out of that right rear tire. It's a lot more than just tightening a few nuts and bolts, and it takes longer than driving through Jiffy Lube.

Most local racers work another job for a living. Time spent in the garage often takes place after work. Racing can be viewed as a second full-time job for the amount of time spent in preparation for the next weekend at the track. The monetary awards often fall short of income versus money spent to race, but it's about reaching the finish line first. Winning the race is the real award. Prize money is nice, but the victory is what makes this labor of love all worth it.

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I spent Friday evening away from the track since it was my wife's birthday. Being away from the track meant I missed the skirmish at Williams Grove Speedway between 410 Sprint Car drivers Danny Dietrich and Brent Marks. According to other media reports, the two were racing hard, battling each other for position in the feature event.

Video evidence shows contact was made off the fourth turn by Marks, sending Dietrich into the guardrail. Dietrich exited his car, removed and threw his steering wheel at Marks' car on the caution pace lap.

Before any "ooohs" or "ahhhs" come from those who want to compare this to the Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward incident, the video is on YouTube. Dietrich, obviously upset, didn't put himself in danger exiting his car. He didn't charge toward a car and was a good 25 feet away from Marks when he chucked his steering wheel.

I like to see a good racing rivalry. I don't want to see watered-down, emotionless racing. But this happened too soon since the Ward tragedy in New York.

Williams Grove fined Dietrich $500 for his actions.

I went to Winchester Speedway on Saturday for the Three State Flyers SLM event with my good friend and former speedway announcer Shane Wilt in tow. Wilt hadn't been to Winchester in recent years, and he was impressed with some of the facility improvements.

Kenny Moreland began the night setting quick time and winning his heat race over the field of 19 cars. With the feature redraw, Moreland started sixth as Kenny Pettyjohn and Allen Brannon paced the field from the front row. As the green flag waved, Brannon overtook the lead from Pettyjohn and set the tone for the first 11 laps of the 35-lap race.

Jamie "The Jet" Lathroum began to make his charge on the high side from his third starting position, and he blasted past Pettyjohn, then Brannon to take the lead on Lap 12. Lathroum had started to distance himself from the pack until a caution on Lap 22. Lathroum kept the lead with a rapid pace on the restart as Pettyjohn moved into second place, passing Brannon on Lap 25.

Lathroum appeared to be well on his way to victory until Lap 31 when a plume of smoke came from under the hood and a trail of oil was left on the surface. A blown engine ended his bid for victory. Dale Hollidge slid into the oil and into the third-turn wall, damaging his car and ending his night. He walked away uninjured. Moreland also tagged the wall but was able to resume racing.

Pettyjohn inherited the lead and went on to win the race, holding off Brannon, Jason Covert, J.T. Spence and C.S. Fitzgerald.

Still on my donut spare tire, I braved the trip up to Williams Grove on Sunday for the Billy Kimmel Memorial. What appeared to be a great evening for racing didn't get to be completed as a heavy rain shower hit the speedway just as the 410 Sprint Car feature was about to take the green flag. The Super Sportsman feature will be made up on this Friday, and the 410 Sprint feature will be made up on Sept. 12.

This weekend, Port Royal Speedway will host the annual Tuscarora 50 for 410 Sprints. The All Star Circuit of Champions sanctioned event is sure to draw the best of Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car teams as Williams Grove and Lincoln Speedway are not contesting the 410's on either night. SLM appear on the Friday card for The Night Before the 50, and the 355 Econo-Lates will compete on Saturday.

Last Lap Quick Notes: Bucky Hess competed at the NHRA U.S Nationals in Indianapolis over the weekend but didn't quite have the results he desired. The car did run well, but he hurt his Jason Line-built 426 Hemi engine, ending his trip early. I hope he will be ready for Maple Grove in October.

Line competes in the NHRA Pro Stock class, and the former world champion was sporting a brand-new helmet painted by Bucky's son Travis "Tuki" Hess.

It's a very sharp-looking piece. Hess also painted the Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaros driven by Line and teammate Greg Anderson.

Pettyjohn showed what a class act he is after his TSF win at Winchester. He said in his victory lane interview that he was donating his earnings to Lathroum to help him pay toward repairs for his engine. Pettyjohn also won the night before at Bedford.

Jason Covert won the TSF race at Potomac Speedway on Sunday. Andy Anderson of Bunker Hill scored the SLM feature win at Hagerstown Speedway. It was Anderson's first win of the season at the Hub City oval and his first SLM victory there since 2009. I'm glad to see him back in victory lane.

Darrell Lanigan continued his WoOLMS domination in scoring his 15th win of the season at Selinsgrove Speedway